How to Make Poppy Paper Flowers

Paper flowers are a delightful craft, adding a vibrant touch to home decor, party decorations, and even special occasions like Memorial Day, Remembrance Day, or Valentine's Day. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a beautiful paper poppy flower using your Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a beginner, this step-by-step guide, complete with a free SVG file, will help you make stunning poppy flowers that look just like the real thing.

Mobile users turn your phone or watch the YouTube tutorial here.

Materials You’ll Need:

Medium cardstock in red, black, and yellow. Traditionally, poppies are crafted in vivid red, but you can experiment with different colors like white, pink, or even yellow to create a variety of beautiful paper poppies that fit your style or event theme.
Hot glue gun or craft glue but I tend to stick with hot glue
Ball tool (medium and small sizes) - you can also optionally use your fingers to shape or the back of a measuring spoon.
Foam mat or thick foam for shaping - I fold some craft foam over itself and use that to roll

If you plan on attaching the stem and leaves:

Green floral wire (gauge 20 or 22) mine was thin!
Scissors for cutting the floral wire
Tweezers to poke a hole in the middle of the calyx

Downloading the Free Poppy Paper Flower SVG

You can find my free SVG files all over my website, the free template for the poppy SVG designs will be under the community vault and you can sign up for the password below by signing up for my newsletter. I try to send a newsletter out every week with a new free item to instant download and expand yourself with creative projects. For download link instructions for desktop or Chrome please find those here there is a 3 to 4-minute video that will walk you step-by-step on how to download and how to download for iPhone or iPad. Thank you so much for crafting with me. I'm so grateful that you're on this journey with me. Check out even more of my free flower templates here.

‍Getting Started with the SVG File

The first step is to download the free SVG file for this poppy flower. This file includes all the parts you need to cut, including the petals, leaves, and calyx. If you’re new to SVG files, these are scalable vector graphics that your cutting machine reads to create precise cuts.

Free SVG file for creating a poppy paper flower in Cricut Design Space.

Once you’ve uploaded the SVG file to Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, make sure to keep all the elements grouped together if you’re resizing. The default size of the poppy flower in the SVG file is approximately 2.5 inches, but you can easily adjust it to make giant paper poppies or smaller ones, depending on your project.

You can adjust the file to your needs. Make more leaves or delete them. Change to one black center or change the color! I just make the template, the designing is really up to you. It's so much fun to see what everyone comes up with!

Once you’re satisfied with the size, click on the "Make It" button in Cricut Design Space or send it to your Silhouette machine. For this project, I recommend using the medium cardstock setting, but make sure to test your materials beforehand. Each machine can behave differently depending on the cardstock brand or thickness or even the sharpness of your blade.

Shaping the Poppy Petals

To achieve a realistic look, shaping the petals is crucial. This step adds depth and dimension to your paper poppy flower, making it stand out from ordinary flowers.

Shaped red paper petals for a DIY poppy flower.

1. Shaping the Red Petals: Use a medium-sized ball tool to gently curl the edges of each red petal. Work on a foam mat or a sponge like material. If you don’t have a ball tool, a metal teaspoon (the type used for measuring) can work as an alternative. Roll the ball tool along the edges, then round the center slightly for a natural flower shape.

Ball tool used for shaping poppy flower petals.

2. Shaping the Black Petals: For the black center petals, use the same ball tool but apply a light pressure in the center. These petals should have a subtle curve but not as pronounced as the red petals.

Shaping the small yellow center of a poppy paper flower..

3. Shaping the Yellow Center: The yellow center is what brings the poppy flower to life. Use a small ball tool to round each of the spikes and the middle area. The more rounded it is, the more realistic it will look.

Assembling the Poppy Flower

Now that all the pieces are shaped, it’s time to assemble the poppy flower. This step is straightforward, and with a bit of patience, you’ll have a beautiful paper poppy ready in no time.

Hot glue gun used to assemble paper poppy flower.

1. Layering the Petals: Start with the two largest red petal pieces. Apply a small dot of glue to the center of one piece and place the second piece on top, slightly offsetting the petals. Repeat this process with the black petals. When you’re done, you should have four layers: two red and two black.

2. Adding the Yellow Center: Apply a dot of glue to the center of the black petals and carefully place the yellow piece in the middle. Ensure it’s centered and secure.

Layered petals of a DIY poppy paper flower in progress.

3. Optional Stem: If you’re planning to make a flower with a stem, poke a small hole through the green calyx. Fold a piece of floral wire into a small loop, then glue this loop to one of the calyx’s raised sections. Attach the calyx to the back of the poppy using hot glue, making sure the floral wire is securely in place.

Adding floral wire to create a stem for the paper poppy flower.

4. Attaching the Leaves: Finally, curl the leaves slightly with your fingers, apply a small amount of glue to the base, and attach them to the floral wire or directly onto the back of the flower. The leaves can be placed symmetrically or at random, depending on your design preference.

Tips for a Realistic Look

To make your paper poppy flower look as lifelike as possible, consider using crepe paper for a softer texture. Crepe paper flowers have a delicate, natural appearance and come in a variety of colors, allowing you to mix and match to create vibrant or muted designs. Additionally, varying the size of the poppy petals or layering them in different ways can create more dimension, making the flowers look less uniform and more like fresh flowers.

You can also utilize eye make-up, paint, or alcohol inks to add more color and depth to your petals. I love using eye shadow and a Q-tip to add some dimension to my paper flowers, you can see it utilized here in my paper sunflower tutorial.

Finished poppy paper flower with all petals and leaves attached.

Using Your Paper Poppy Flower

The versatility of this paper poppy flower tutorial allows you to use it for various occasions and projects. Here are some ideas:

Memorial Day and Remembrance Day: Red poppies are symbols of remembrance, making this flower perfect for honoring loved ones.

Valentine's Day: Create a beautiful flower bouquet using red, pink, and white poppies for a romantic gift.

Home Decor: Add these paper poppies to a wreath, vase, or wall arrangement for a pop of color that lasts year-round.

Giant Paper Flowers: Use the SVG file to create giant paper poppies for party decorations, photo backdrops, or special events.

Crafty Gifts: Give a handmade poppy to a friend or family member as a token of love or appreciation.

Final Thoughts

Making paper poppies is not only a fun craft but also a meaningful way to express creativity. This step-by-step tutorial with a free SVG file makes it easy for anyone to create beautiful paper flowers, even if it’s your first time working with a cutting machine. Whether you’re crafting for a special occasion or just because, these poppies are sure to bring joy and color into your life. Remember, you can always experiment with different colors, sizes, and materials to make each flower uniquely yours. Plus, making your own paper poppies can be a meaningful way to participate in remembrance or celebrate loved ones while enjoying a creative and rewarding craft project.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a paper poppy flower! If you did, please give this post a share, and don’t forget to check out the other flower tutorials on my blog. We still have 4 more months to fill out the flowers of the year series! I can't wait to make them with you!